18 Super Bowl Ads That Became Cultural Icons
Super Bowl commercials have become as anticipated as the game itself. Companies spend millions for 30 seconds of airtime, knowing they have a captive audience of over 100 million viewers. Some ads disappear into obscurity after their debut, but others transcend their original purpose to become part of American culture.
The best Super Bowl ads don’t just sell products – they create moments that get talked about for decades. Here is a list of 18 Super Bowl commercials that achieved legendary status and became cultural icons.
Apple’s 1984
Apple’s dystopian masterpiece changed advertising forever with its debut during Super Bowl XVIII. Directed by Ridley Scott, this cinematic commercial introduced the Macintosh computer without even showing the product.
The ad’s bold imagery and dramatic narrative made it an instant classic – launching Apple’s reputation for innovative marketing that continues today.
Coca-Cola’s Mean Joe Greene
The 1979 Coca-Cola commercial featuring Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mean Joe Greene became the gold standard for heartwarming Super Bowl ads. A young boy offers his Coke to the injured football star, who tosses his jersey in return.
This simple exchange captured America’s heart and established the template for emotional advertising that tugs at heartstrings.
Budweiser Frogs
Three frogs croaking ‘Bud-weis-er’ in perfect sequence became an overnight sensation in 1995. The simplicity was genius – no complex storyline, just amphibians selling beer through repetition.
Kids loved mimicking the frogs, adults quoted them at parties, and Budweiser had created something that transcended traditional advertising.
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E*TRADE Dancing Baby
The 1999 ETRADE commercial featuring a dancing baby shocked viewers into paying attention. This bizarre, computer-generated infant became an internet meme before memes were really a thing.
The ad’s weirdness worked perfectly – people remembered ETRADE precisely because the commercial was so strange and unexpected.
Pepsi’s Cindy Crawford
Pepsi’s 1992 commercial with Cindy Crawford watching her drink a Pepsi became iconic for multiple reasons. The supermodel’s star power combined with the ad’s subtle storytelling created something memorable.
Two young boys watch through a window, supposedly admiring Crawford, but the punchline reveals they’re actually interested in the new Pepsi can design.
McDonald’s The Showdown
Larry Bird versus Michael Jordan shooting hoops for a Big Mac became legendary in 1993. The ad capitalized on both athletes’ competitive nature and massive popularity.
Their increasingly ridiculous shots – ‘off the expressway, over the river, off the billboard’ – turned a simple burger commercial into sports entertainment gold.
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Doritos Crash the Super Bowl
Doritos revolutionized Super Bowl advertising by letting consumers create their own commercials. The ‘Crash the Super Bowl’ contest ran for several years, producing multiple memorable ads made by regular people.
This crowdsourcing approach generated massive buzz and proved that creativity matters more than big budgets – sometimes amateur filmmakers outdid professional ad agencies.
Old Spice The Man Your Man Could Smell Like
Isaiah Mustafa’s smooth delivery and the commercial’s rapid-fire scene changes created advertising magic in 2010. The ad’s absurdist humor and Mustafa’s charismatic performance revitalized Old Spice’s brand image overnight.
‘Look at your man, now back to me’ became a cultural catchphrase that spawned countless parodies and references.
Volkswagen The Force
A miniature Darth Vader trying to use the Force on everyday objects melted hearts in 2011. The kid’s determined attempts to move things with his mind, followed by his father secretly starting their Volkswagen Passat, created perfect family-friendly entertainment.
The ad’s Star Wars connection didn’t hurt either – it appealed to multiple generations simultaneously.
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Snickers You’re Not You When You’re Hungry
Betty White getting tackled during a football game launched Snickers’ ‘You’re Not You When You’re Hungry’ campaign in 2010. The beloved actress playing a cranky football player was comedy gold.
The campaign’s success led to numerous follow-up commercials featuring other celebrities, but White’s original performance remains the most memorable.
Wendy’s Where’s the Beef?
Clara Peller’s demand for more beef became a national catchphrase in 1984. The elderly woman’s indignant question about competitor burgers turned Wendy’s into a major player in the fast-food wars.
The phrase entered everyday language, was referenced by politicians, and proved that the right slogan can transcend its original context.
FedEx Castaway
The 2003 FedEx commercial featuring a Castaway parody was brilliant in its simplicity. A man stranded on a desert island finally gets rescued and delivers a FedEx package, wondering what was inside that could have saved him years of suffering.
The ad’s dark humor and movie reference created something memorable that stood out among typical Super Bowl fare.
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Monster.com When I Grow Up
Children stating their career anti-aspirations in 1999 created one of the most memorable job site commercials ever. ‘When I grow up, I want to claw my way up to middle management’ delivered by innocent kids was both hilarious and sobering.
The ad perfectly captured workplace dissatisfaction while promoting Monster.com as the solution.
Reebok Terry Tate Office Linebacker
Terry Tate bringing NFL-style enforcement to office infractions was comedy perfection in 2003. The massive linebacker tackling coworkers for minor workplace violations like not refilling the coffee pot created an instant classic.
The ad’s absurd premise and Tate’s intense delivery made it endlessly quotable and shareable.
Chrysler Imported from Detroit
Eminem’s 2011 Chrysler commercial transformed Detroit from punchline to source of pride. The rapper’s serious narration about his hometown’s resilience, combined with stunning visuals of the city, created something more like a short film than a traditional car commercial.
The ad’s authenticity and emotional weight made it stand out during a typically lighthearted Super Bowl.
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Audi Green Police
The 2010 Audi commercial featuring eco-enforcement officers was darkly humorous and perfectly timed. Environmental consciousness was reaching peak cultural attention, and Audi’s ad both celebrated and gently mocked the movement.
The Green Police arresting people for environmental violations was absurd enough to be funny while still promoting Audi’s clean diesel technology.
Budweiser Wassup
Four friends greeting each other with elongated ‘Wassup’ became a cultural phenomenon in 1999. The commercial’s casual, authentic feel made it seem like viewers were eavesdropping on real conversations.
The catchphrase spread globally, was parodied endlessly, and proved that sometimes the simplest concepts create the biggest impact.
GoDaddy Wardrobe Malfunction
GoDaddy’s 2005 commercial featuring a mock wardrobe malfunction was controversy marketing at its finest. The ad capitalized on the previous year’s Janet Jackson incident while promoting their web hosting services.
Though criticized for being tasteless, the commercial achieved its goal of getting people talking about GoDaddy and establishing the brand in public consciousness.
More Than Just Commercials
These 18 Super Bowl ads transcended their original purpose to become genuine cultural touchstones. They created catchphrases, launched careers, and influenced how companies approach advertising during major events.
The best Super Bowl commercials don’t just interrupt the game – they become part of the entertainment experience itself. In an era of DVRs and streaming services, these ads proved that the right message delivered at the right moment can still capture the entire nation’s attention and create lasting cultural impact.
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